Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-23
GENERAL VANDEvER seems to be, to

say the least, unfortunate in the way
in which his controversy is handled,
In his answer to the points in Mr.
Lynch's statement OF causes OF con-
test, the General makes very sweep.
ing and offensive charges against the
whole Democratic party. One of the
Generals most sensible newspaper
friends, pronounces this not only i'm
polite, but a gratuitous blunder, and
the reply to this very proper excep-
ton is mere abuse of the editor who
makes it. But here, at this stage OF
the controversy comes out most pc
culiar revelation. A iustifier of the
Generals extraordinary position,
holds that it is proper, because
his strong point in this contest
is not to gain the seat by the strength
OF reputable testimony that can be
produced in his favor, but to forelay
for popular sympathy in the election
of 1888, so that General Vandever
may be carried into Congress by
m making it appear that he was made a
martyr in this contest. ii the General
and his friends consider this either a
strong or digniiied point, we leave
them to make the most of it. But
now comes the reactionary effect
from this singular attitude the Gen
eral has taken in his answer. He is
confronted by the Ventura Democrat
with the following pointed criticism
Of his allegation that about fifty votes
were purchased in that county by
Democratic agents:
When Mr.. Lynch's representative
served the notice of contest on Gen
eral Nandever some time ago he
asked us If We knew OF any fraud or
wrong-doing having been perpetrated
at any of the precincts of Ventura
county at the late election, and we
answered him. truthfullv. that we
had no such knowledge. Now comes
General Vandever with a charge of
fraud and corruption in which
he gets the sum of money
expended and the number OF
votes secured down to a point al
most as fine as gnat's heel. If the
General can prove what he thus al
leges upon information and belief, all
right, but he will have to produce the
proof, and that Of a respectable kind,
before we shall believe word OF it.
The issue is now made between Mr..
Lynch and General Vandever, and
after each man gathers his testimony
the question as to who is just
ly entitled to the seat will be
determined by the House OF
Representatives. And until the mat.
ter is thus settled by the proper tri-
bunal we think it would be in keeping
with wisdom and good taste on the
part of Gen. Vandeyer's friends to
pend coarse and ungenerous criti-
cism upon Mr.. Lynch's action in the
premises. He has a right to contest
and in doing SO has only followed the
SAdiuplt vi tilOusduuS vi OtHcTS, anu
ii he can show that he has been de-
frauded of his electionit is to be hoped
that he will be seated, n ot otherwise.
If Gen. Vandever has the easy-going,
sure thing of it that some OF his more
gushing friends claim for him, so much
the better for himself, but il does not
follow that Mr.. Lynch is knave, or
fool or dishonest man because he has
a doubt OF it, and has taken means to
investigate the matter. 1t is said that
Blaine charged his ''fool friends" with
his defeat. and probably General Van
dever's cause may be damaged by the
same kind of agency.
We leave this matter in the very
perplexing position in which General
Vandever and his friends have placed
it, merely saying that Mr.. Lynch will
be careful to lose nothing by the mis-
takes and errors OF judgement OF his
adversaries.